The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-29
GREAT BISMARCK AT HOME.
His Estate at varzin and His Pleasant Do
mestic Life.
in Hera

mestic Life.
Henry Haynie. in Boston Herald.
Besides his patrimonial estates at Schonhau-
sen and Kniephof Bismarck owns Varzin, pur-
chased in 1866 with $500, 900 that the Emperor
presented him after the war with Austria, and
in 1871 he received from the same source the
tate of Friedrichsruhe, which cost 800. 900. His
income from these properties and other private
sources now exceeds 100000 year. He man.
ages his estates himself and does very sue
cessfully, being not only a farmer. but "a lum ber-
dealer, brewer distillsr, saw-mill owner and
paper manufacturer. He is thoroughly posted
in the various processes of these diverse in
dustries and keeps sharp lookout for all
improvements and new inventions relating to
them. When in the country Bismarck takes off
his uniform, puts on thick gray cloth sack
coat and by 8 o'clock every morning starts out,
followed by his dogs, for walk over the estate.
Between 10 and II he returns to the house, and.
while waiting for breakfast, examines the con-
tents of the mail bag and answers the kilograms
which may have arrived during the night.
After breakfast he receives his tenants, over
seers and game-keepers, and at o'clock goes out
in carriage on horseba TO visit some dis
tant part of the property, rarely getting back
until shortly before his dinner, which lie served
| at $780, The coffee is served in thu billiard
room. where the Prince smokes his pipe seated
in front of large wood fire. and where he re-
mains until a servant announces that tea is
ready in the salon OF the Princess By that
time it is 1890, and before midnight he retires
to his bedroom, where he often lies awake read
ing for hours and hours.
AS it is impossible for anyone occupying such
position in the world to escape entirely. even
for short time, from the cares of public life,
oficeseekers, petitioners, visitors of all sorts
constantly arriving at Varzin. the Chancellor re-
| sorts to ruses of all sorts to avoid them His
wife usually intervenes to rid him of these visit
| ors. One day a foreign EN- AMBASSADOR asked Bis
marck, at the close of long conversation. how
| he managed to get rid of people who bored him.
| Very easily" was the answer. when my
| wife thinks that anyone has been with too
| long she sends some one to ask mo to come to
her, and of course the visitor must CO." At that
| moment the servant opened the door and said
that the Prlncess requested the Prince to come
to her at once. When his duties do not compel
| his presence in Berlin. the Chancellor divides
! his time between Varzin and Friedrichsruhe.
| The mansion on this latter estate is furnished
very simply; all the walls and ceilings white
washed, the furniture is scanty and uncomforta.
| BILE, and the only ornaments portraits OF
| Theirs, Beaconsfeld and Cardinal Hohenlohe, a
| large bronze bust of Won Moitke a bronze statue
of the great Elector. presented to the Chancellor
| by the Emperor, plaster cast of an equestrian
| statue of Charlemagne, large portrait of the
| Emperor William, few family portraits and
some landscapes representing views from vari-
| Gus portions of the estate. The only art for
| which the Chancellor has any fondness is music,
not that he is musical himself, but because it
gives him great pleasure to listen to fine singing
| and playing. art is gay and life is serious" is
| a sentiment he wrote at the bottom Of the pho
| tograpn OF nlms0iI ana NINE. Lucca that caused
| so much scandal in Berlin . few years ago.
In spite of that photograph. all who
are in position to know declare that
the private life of Prince Bismarck is rreproach-
able. His love for his wife and children is very
deep and is warmly returned. the family being
| in every respect model of domestic union and
affection. So fond is he of his home life that be
never accepts any invitations except those of the
Emperor, and never goes to the theater, to balls
banquets or other entertainments. He is, how
ever fond of entertaining, and the great cham
bers at Varzin and Friedrichsruhe are always oc
cupied when he is at those estates. Once year
| he gives formal entertainment to the whole
male portion of the diplomatic corps, and alst
gives frequent parliamentary dinners during the
sessions of the Reichstag. The Chancellor is ar
| inexhaustible stock of anecdotes, which are al
ways we'll told. His irritability makes him
hard man to get along with, espe
| cialv for his subordinates NJ. Busch relate.
| that he, evening in 1877, heard Bsmarci
complain very bitterly of his lot in life. Hi,
| career. he said, had given very little salts
faction to himself personally. and won him very
| few friends; he had not added to the happiness
of himself, of his family. or of any one. One
| of those who heard him say this suggested tha
he had made . great nation very happy
Yes he replied, "'but how many other nations
have / rendered unhappy But for me three
| great wars wonld never have taken place, 80. 00
mon would not have been killed in battle
| fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and wive
| would not have been plunged into misery.
have settled ell that with my conscience an,
with my Creator, but have reaped very little
if any, happiness from all that have done tn
only things it has yielded me are various anxi
cites and griefs."